TORRANCE – A large sinkhole at the site of a water main break in a commercial part of Torrance has led to a major street closure expected to last a week.

The sinkhole was reported about 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 12 on Van Ness Avenue between Dominguez Street and Arlington Avenue, said Assistant Torrance Fire Chief Carl Besanceney. The street, near the Honda corporate offices, remained closed on both sides Sunday as crews continued repair work.

Van Ness is a major feeder street for businesses on weekdays, he said.

The city’s street department will delay the repair work for about a week because of upcoming storms, Besanceney said Sunday afternoon.

Shortly after 3 p.m., the Fire Department tweeted that all lanes on Van Ness Avenue will remain closed between Dominguez Street and Cravens Ave. until Saturday, Jan. 19.

All lanes of Van Ness Ave. will remain closed between Dominguez St. to Cravens Ave. due to yesterday's water main break until Saturday, January 19. Please avoid the area.

On the southbound side, the sinkhole had grown to 20 feet by 30 feet as of Sunday morning, he said. There was a residual effect, with settling of the street, on the northbound side.

The broken water main was about 15 inches in diameter, he said.

Water service has been rerouted while the water main is being repaired and no customers were affected, Besanceney said.

On Sunday night, the city of Torrance tweeted out ways to get around the closed street. Northbound and southbound drivers should use Western Avenue or or Crenshaw Boulevard as alternate routes. Eastbound and westbound drivers are advised to take Del Amo or Torrance boulevards.

Marilyn Kalfus covers news, issues, and trends for The Orange County Register's award-winning Sunday Real Estate section, which in 2015 snagged first place for best U.S. newspaper real estate section from the National Association of Real Estate Editors. She also writes stories, edits photos and puts together slideshows for our popular Hot Homes feature about iconic, big-ticket and unusual properties on the market. On weekends, she edits police, breaking news and general assignment reporters.